Volunteer Profile

Connor

Berry

Languages:

English

April, 1997

Bio:

I grew up in Lee's Summit, MO, USA and spent most of my years there going to the Raymore-Peculiar School District. Since 6th grade I have pursued an interest in percussion; started taking private lesson as a sophomore and did very well at the annual state solos and ensembles competition. I was also on the drumline for three years and was drumline captain my senior year. I played soccer for several years and continue to play and watch games when I can. I also part of my neighborhood's swim team up until I went to college, and wrestled three seasons for my high school.
During my first semester at college, DePauw University, I developed two new interests: volunteering and environmentalism. (I will leave volunteering for its own section.) I became concerned with the environment partly due to my first year seminar: modern environmental problems and partly because, when I pondered how I could contribute to the world, I realized how crucial such concern is for my own generation as we deal with the problems caused by past human action. Because of my concern, I joined the Environmental Fellows Program and the Sustainability Leadership Project, which are academic and action based environmental groups, respectively, specific to DePauw University.

Volunteering Experience:

The Bonner Scholar Program is a national fund from the Bonner family, with several colleges administering their own branch of the program. As a Bonner Scholar, I look for ways to serve the community while developing my own skills, a common activity called service-learning. While all community service provides opportunities to build skills, the Bonner Scholar Program stresses committed service to one or two organizations (at least 112 hours per semester, 8 hours per week, are required in order to remain a Bonner Scholar) and careful planning to ensure the learning aspect of service-learning.
During my first semester as a Bonner scholar, I did part of myy service for Bridging the Gap, which manages three recycling centers. My duties included decontaminating bins (putting recyclables that creep into incorrect bins into the right bins), helping patrons with unloading, and answering any questions that patrons have. This semester, I plan on being a classroom assistant for Mrs. Hayes at Ridpath Elementary School, mentoring 2nd graders, helping with grading, and anything else Mrs. Hayes needs. At Greencastle High School, I will be co-coordinating, along with the counselor, the program Tigers Leading Cubs, which aims to help juniors as they start to think about college visits, ACT and SAT tests, college and scholarship applications, whether or not they want to or can go to college, etc. Lastly, I will be leading the effort to revamp Greencastle's community garden.

I grew up in Lee's Summit, MO, USA and spent most of my years there going to the Raymore-Peculiar School District. Since 6th grade I have pursued an interest in percussion; started taking private lesson as a sophomore and did very well at the annual state solos and ensembles competition. I was also on the drumline for three years and was drumline captain my senior year. I played soccer for several years and continue to play and watch games when I can. I also part of my neighborhood's swim team up until I went to college, and wrestled three seasons for my high school.
During my first semester at college, DePauw University, I developed two new interests: volunteering and environmentalism. (I will leave volunteering for its own section.) I became concerned with the environment partly due to my first year seminar: modern environmental problems and partly because, when I pondered how I could contribute to the world, I realized how crucial such concern is for my own generation as we deal with the problems caused by past human action. Because of my concern, I joined the Environmental Fellows Program and the Sustainability Leadership Project, which are academic and action based environmental groups, respectively, specific to DePauw University.

Volunteering Experience

The Bonner Scholar Program is a national fund from the Bonner family, with several colleges administering their own branch of the program. As a Bonner Scholar, I look for ways to serve the community while developing my own skills, a common activity called service-learning. While all community service provides opportunities to build skills, the Bonner Scholar Program stresses committed service to one or two organizations (at least 112 hours per semester, 8 hours per week, are required in order to remain a Bonner Scholar) and careful planning to ensure the learning aspect of service-learning.
During my first semester as a Bonner scholar, I did part of myy service for Bridging the Gap, which manages three recycling centers. My duties included decontaminating bins (putting recyclables that creep into incorrect bins into the right bins), helping patrons with unloading, and answering any questions that patrons have. This semester, I plan on being a classroom assistant for Mrs. Hayes at Ridpath Elementary School, mentoring 2nd graders, helping with grading, and anything else Mrs. Hayes needs. At Greencastle High School, I will be co-coordinating, along with the counselor, the program Tigers Leading Cubs, which aims to help juniors as they start to think about college visits, ACT and SAT tests, college and scholarship applications, whether or not they want to or can go to college, etc. Lastly, I will be leading the effort to revamp Greencastle's community garden.